Inflatable pad having reinforcing units

ABSTRACT

An inflatable pad includes an inflatable pad body having a top layer, a bottom layer, and an annular surrounding layer interconnecting the top and bottom layers and cooperating with the top and bottom layers to define an inflatable space. A plurality of tubular reinforcing units are disposed in the inflatable space of the inflatable pad body. Each reinforcing unit has an annular outer surface having opposite polygonal attaching areas that face respectively the top and bottom layers of the pad body. A periphery of each of the polygonal attaching areas is attached fixedly to a corresponding one of the top and bottom layers of the pad body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Application No. 200620155256.0, filed on Dec. 22, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an inflatable pad, more particularly to an inflatable pad having reinforcing units.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional inflatable pad 5 is shown to include an inflatable pad body consisting of a top layer 50, a bottom layer 51, and an annular surrounding layer (not shown) interconnecting the top and bottom layers 50, 51 and cooperating with the top and bottom layers 50, 51 to define an inflatable space 53, and a plurality of reinforcing belts 54 (only one is shown), each of which has opposite ends welded respectively and thermally to the top and bottom layers 50, 51 along two elliptical welding lines 55. Based on tests, during use, a relatively large stress acts at a location (E) of each thermal welding line 55, and a relatively small stress acts at a location (F) of each terminal welding line 55. As a result, the inflatable pad 5 easily splits at the location (E) of each thermal welding line 55.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable pad that has reinforcing units capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.

According to the present invention, an inflatable pad comprises:

an inflatable pad body having a top layer, a bottom layer, and an annular surrounding layer interconnecting the top and bottom layers and cooperating with the top and bottom layers to define an inflatable space; and

a plurality of tubular reinforcing units disposed in the inflatable space of the inflatable pad body, each of the reinforcing units having an annular outer surface having opposite polygonal attaching areas that face respectively the top and bottom layers of the pad body, a periphery of each of the polygonal attaching areas being attached fixedly to a corresponding one of the top and bottom layers of the pad body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conventional inflatable bed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of an inflatable pad according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view showing the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary assembled perspective view showing the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a reinforcing unit of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified reinforcing unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the preferred embodiment of an inflatable pad according to the present invention is shown to include an inflatable pad body 1, and a plurality of reinforcing units 4. In this embodiment, the inflatable pad is an inflatable bed.

The inflatable pad body 1 has a top layer 11, a bottom layer 12, and an annular surrounding layer 13 interconnecting the top and bottom layers 11, 12 and cooperating with the top and bottom layers 11, 12 to define an inflatable space 10.

The reinforcing units 4 are disposed in the inflatable space 10 of the inflatable pad body 1, and are arranged in an array. Referring to FIG. 5, each reinforcing unit 4 has an annular outer surface 40 having opposite polygonal attaching areas 401 that face respectively the top and bottom layers 11, 12. A periphery 41 of each polygonal attaching area 401 is attached fixedly to a corresponding one of the top and bottom layers 11, 12 of the pad body 1 by thermal welding. In this embodiment, the attaching areas 401 of the annular outer surface 40 of each reinforcing unit 4 are hexagonal, i.e., have six sides. Preferably, for each reinforcing unit 4, two sides 42, 43 of each attaching area 401 of the annular outer surface 40 are parallel to each other, are longer than the other ones of the sides thereof, and extend in a longitudinal direction of a corresponding reinforcing unit 4, thereby reinforcing bonding with the top and bottom layers 11, 12. Each attaching area 401 of the annular outer surface 40 of each reinforcing unit 4 is chamfered at each of corners thereof, thereby minimizing stress concentrated at the corners.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is provided a modified reinforcing unit 4′, wherein each of the attaching areas 401′ of the annular outer surface 40′ is regular hexagonal. As such, each attaching area 401′ has six identical sides that constitute the periphery 41′ thereof.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An inflatable pad comprising: an inflatable pad body having a top layer, a bottom layer, and an annular surrounding layer interconnecting said top and bottom layers and cooperating with said top and bottom layers to define an inflatable space; and a plurality of tubular reinforcing units disposed in said inflatable space of said inflatable pad body, each of said reinforcing units having an annular outer surface having opposite polygonal attaching areas that face respectively said top and bottom layers of said pad body, a periphery of each of said polygonal attaching areas being attached fixedly to a corresponding one of said top and bottom layers of said pad body.
 2. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attaching areas of said annular outer surface of each of said reinforcing units are hexagonal.
 3. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said attaching areas of said annular outer surface of each of said reinforcing units has a plurality of sides, at least two of which are parallel to each other.
 4. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least two of said sides of each of said attaching areas of said annular outer surface of each of said reinforcing units are longer than the other ones of said sides thereof.
 5. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least two of said sides of each of said attaching areas of said annular outer surface of each of said reinforcing units extend in a longitudinal direction of a corresponding one of said tubular reinforcing units.
 6. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said attaching areas of said annular outer surface of each of said reinforcing units is chamfered at each of corners thereof.
 7. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said attaching areas of said annular outer surface of each of said reinforcing units is regular hexagonal. 